Utah Blaze Game Notes

Published on July 14, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release


Utah Blaze vs. Arizona Rattlers

Week 16 - Friday, July 16, 2010

8:30 p.m. (MT), US Airways Center (14,398)

THE QUICK FACTS:

Game: Utah Blaze (1-12) vs. Arizona Rattlers (8-5)

Date: Friday, July 16th, 2010

Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (MT)

Site: US Airways Center (14,398)

Officials: Referee: Shawn Hochuli; Umpire: Matt Richards; Head Linesman: Ed Walker; Line Judge: Jim Wharrie; Back Judge: Mearle Robinson.

Internet TV: This week's game can be viewed live on Nifty TV. (www.niftytv.com/afl).

Radio: Utah's flagship station 1280 THE ZONE will broadcast the game live.

Coaches: Utah, Ron James 3rd AFL season; 0-6 regular season, 13-24 overall). Arizona, Kevin Guy (10th AFL, 2nd as Head Coach; 8-5 regular season, 17-17 overall (AFL).

OVERVIEW:

The Blaze were unable to clinch a win last week versus the Jacksonville Sharks marking their ninth consecutive loss of the season with a final score of 56-67. The Blaze look up to pick-up their second win of the season this week versus the Arizona Rattlers. Last week, the Rattlers fell to the Chicago Rush, 50-55.

THE SERIES:

This regular-season match up marks the second meeting this season between the teams. This marks the 8th all-time regular-season meeting and the 9th overall. Arizona leads the all-time series 6-2. This marks the first meeting between Blaze head coach RON JAMES and Rattlers head coach KEVIN GUY and the second face-off for the Blaze versus their former head coach Danny White.

NFL NETWORK SCHEDULE: The National Game of the Week will be showcasing the Spokane Shock as they take on the Iowa Barnstormers on Friday, July 16th. The game will be on live at 6:05 PM Mountain Time and is available exclusively on the NFL Network.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Blaze continue on the road next week to take on the Dallas Vigilantes on Saturday, July 24th with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. (MT). The following week the Blaze will visit the Alabama Vipers in their final game of the season on Saturday, July 31st, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. (MT).

LAST WEEK:

BLAZE BIT BY THE SHARKS, 56-67

Utah Hits the Road for Final Three Games of the Season

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze (1-12) fell to Jacksonville Sharks (9-4) on Friday night, 56-67, in front of 4,508 fans in their final home game of the season at the Maverik Center.

"We played hard and I'm proud of the team for the effort," said Blaze Head Coach Ron James. "When we play together we can be pretty good, not great but good."

Jacksonville quickly tallied the first score of the evening after WR/DB Jomo Wilson (6-0, 205, Eastern Oregon) returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Blaze responded with a 23-yard touchdown pass from QB Brett Elliott (6-3, 210, Linfield) to WR Wendall Williams (6-0, 190, Rhode Island). Jacksonville put up another touchdown before the first quarter of play ended, leading 13-7.

The Sharks jumped ahead in the second quarter of play, holding the Blaze to one touchdown.

Shark QB Aaron Garcia (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) tallied his 1,000th touchdown score in his career on a 23-yard touchdown pass to WR Jason Willis (6-1, 198, Oregon) within the quarter. The Sharks outscored the Blaze 21-7 before the entering the locker room.

The Blaze re-ignited briefly in the third quarter after DB Brandon Hampton (5-9, 190, Cal) returned the kickoff for a touchdown. Yet, Jacksonville could not be stopped as they continued to score on every possession of the quarter leading, 60-35 as they entered the final quarter of play.

Elliott connected twice with Williams and once with WR Aaron Boone (6-3, 213 Kentucky) in the final quarter of play, but it still wasn't enough to close the gap.

Garcia earned Russell Athletic Player of the Game after completing 18-of-21 passes for 222 yards and five touchdowns.

Riddell Defensive Player of the Game Honors went to DB Jason Perry (5-8, 175, Michigan State) after tallying 5.0 total tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.

Shark WR/DB Jomo Wilson (6-0, 205, Eastern Oregon) earned the JLS Ironman of the Game for recording three receptions for 28 yards and returning six kicks for 119 yards.

Williams earned Cutter's Catch of the Game for his one-handed 30-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from Elliott.

WR Dallas Baker (6-4, 215, Florida) earned Nifty's Playmaker of the Game after compiling nine receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Elliott finished the night 26-of-50 passing for 318 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

THE COACHES:

Utah - Ron James, 3rd AFL season

0-6 (.000) 2010 reg. season; 13-24 (.351) overall

This season marks James's first official season with the Blaze franchise. On Wednesday, July 9, 2008, James was promoted to the head coaching position of the Blaze, replacing Danny White. Due to the hiatus of the AFL, James never officially logged a game as the head coach of the Blaze. Prior to his promotion, James completed his second season with the Blaze as the Defensive Coordinator and Director of Player Personnel and 11th season in the Arena Football League.

James was the Head Coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators (now Cleveland Gladiators) for two seasons (2005, 2006). In 2005, his team led the AFL in total offense and team defense, and set 14 new offensive and defensive team records. Prior to being named head coach of Las Vegas, James was the assistant head coach/OL/DL/Special Teams coach of the Gladiators for three seasons. Before joining the Gladiators, he was the line coach for the Houston ThunderBears and Director of Player Personnel from 1999-2001. He also was an assistant coach with the Albany Firebirds from 1990-91.

Arizona - Kevin Guy, 10th season, 2nd in the AFL

3-3 (.500) reg. season; 12-15 (.444) overall

1-1 career vs. Utah

Kevin Guy begins his tenth season in the Arena Football League, and his second as Head Coach/Director of Football Operations of the Arizona Rattlers. This will be Guy's sixth season coaching in the league after joining the team on August 10, 2007 following a successful two year stint with the San Jose SaberCats. During Guy's two seasons as Defensive Coordinator with San Jose, the SaberCats were known as one of the league's best defensive squads, advancing to the American Conference Finals in 2006 and winning Arena Bowl XXI in 2007. When Guy joined the San Jose SaberCats in 2005, he left the af2 with the most wins in the history of the league. Guy amassed 52 career wins in his four seasons, averaging 13 victories a season. He also grabbed a Coach of the Year honor and finished with a .732 winning percentage while leading the Tennessee Valley Vipers (2002-04) and Rio Grande Valley Dorados (2005).

MAKING THEIR MARK

Despite having a tough season, several Blaze players are still ranked within the Top 10 of the AFL statistical leaders.

WR/DB BRANDON HAMPTON ranks second in the AFL in Kickoff Return yards with 1,623. He also ranks third in Kickoff Return Yards per attempt with 22.5 and tenth in all purpose yards with 1,768.

WR AARON BOONE ranks fourth in Total Receptions (115) and Total Scoring (234). He also ranks fifth in the AFL in Scoring Per Game (18.0) and Total Scoring TDs (216), Scoring TDs per game (18.0). He ranks sixth in Receptions Per Game (8.8), He also ranks ninth in Total Receiving Yards (1,240).

K BEN SCOTT ranks seventh in AFL field goals percentage (0.444) and eighth in Total Field Goals (4).

MILESTONES:

*WR WENDALL WILLIAMS needs 6 catches to reach 150 career receptions.

*WR AARON BOONE needs 12 touchdowns to reach 100 career.

RATTLERS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

WR J.J. McKELVEY - McKelvey enters his first season with Arizona after spending 2008 season with the Blaze as a part of the record-making trio of receivers. He recorded 121 receptions for 1,534 receiving yards with 38 touchdowns. In 2007, McKelvey played in 13 games with the Philadelphia Soul where he recorded 50 receptions for 544 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also recorded 19.5 tackles and two pass breakups on defense. McKelvey also spent the 2006 season with the Soul where he recorded 36 receptions for 589 yards and 12 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball he recorded 21.0 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass break-up. In 2005 McKelvey was named to the American Conference All-AF2 team while playing for the Manchester Wolves. He started his Arena career in 2004 with Wolves. In 2003 McKelvey spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a three-year letter winner for the Clemson Tigers where he recorded 84 receptions for 1,277 yards and eight touchdowns while with the Tigers.

QB NICK DAVILA - Davila lead the Spokane Shock (then of the AF2) to a 38-3 record including two ArenaCup appearances and one championship. In 2009, Davila completed 349 passes for 3,863 yards and 86 touchdowns and was named first-team all-af2.In his first season in the AFL, Davila has earned the Rattlers starting job and is handling it extremely capably.

PLAYER TIES:

BLAZE WR AARON BOONE played 2007 and 2008 for Rattlers Offensive Coordinator Danny White. White was the head coach of the Blaze from 2006-2008. While playing under White, Boone had 179 catches for 2,121 yards and 34 touchdowns. In 2008, Boone was a huge part of the receiving core with J.J. McKelvey and Huey Whitaker where the trio created a new AFL record. It was the first time a team in the history of the AFL to had three receivers attain 1,500-plus receiving yards, 100-plus receptions and 20-plus touchdown receptions in the regular season.

RATTLERS WR J.J. McKELVEY had a career-best season with the Blaze in 2008. McKelvey recorded 121 receptions for 1,534 receiving yards with 38 touchdowns. McKelvey was a part of a trio of Blaze receivers who created an AFL league record by attaining 1,500-plus receiving yards, 100-plus receptions and 20-plus touchdown receptions in the regular season.

RATTLERS LB KELVIN MORRIS spent the 2008 season with the Utah Blaze.

RATTLERS DL Ron Jones and BLAZE QB BRETT ELLIOTT were teammates with the San Jose SaberCats in 2008.

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